First Solar Inc. (FSLR): Today's Featured Electronics Laggard

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

First Solar ( FSLR) pushed the Electronics industry lower today making it today's featured Electronics laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.5%. By the end of trading, First Solar fell $1.37 (-6%) to $21.20 on average volume. Throughout the day, 9.3 million shares of First Solar exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 6.8 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $21.02-$22.78 after having opened the day at $22.33 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $22.57. Other companies within the Electronics industry that declined today were: Vicon Industries ( VII), down 20.1%, Qualstar Corporation ( QBAK), down 14.6%, Trio-Tech International ( TRT), down 13.5%, and Microvision ( MVIS), down 12.9%.

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First Solar, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of solar modules using a thin-film semiconductor technology in the United States and internationally. The company is also involved in the design, construction, and sale of photovoltaic solar power systems. First Solar has a market cap of $2.04 billion and is part of the technology sector. Shares are down 30.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are five analysts that rate First Solar a buy, two analysts rate it a sell, and 19 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates First Solar as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself.

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